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The Icon of the Sea is 1,198 feet in length with 20 passenger decks and 2,805 staterooms for passengers. Her passenger capacity will be a maximum of 7,600 with an additional 2,350 crew aboard. She has a broad range of amenities for her passengers including more than 20 different locations for food as well as seven pools and six waterslides as part of the largest waterpark at sea. Among what the cruise line calls neighborhoods is an area devoted to families and children and the new signature space a geodesic dome above the bridge called the Aquadome. It will be a venue for water shows, entertainment, food, a bar, and a lounge space that features a 220-degree view as well as a 55-foot waterfall. Each pool has its own unique vibe, and every one is free for cruise guests (though one is exclusively for Suite Guests…more on that later).
Surfside Bites
Not to mention, the overall vibe of the Pearl Café is much different. The area is open with floor-to-ceiling ocean views, comfy seating options, and plenty of outlets. So, cruisers can relax or do a little work while enjoying some coffee and snacks throughout the day.
The customizable Mediterranean-style wrap at the five-stall food hall
Before you pack your bags, there's still quite a bit of time left before she is ready to take on passengers. The ship will offer alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, all with stops at CocoCay. The Western Caribbean voyages will call on Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, with some itineraries also featuring a visit to Roatan, Honduras. Likewise, some Eastern Caribbean itineraries will visit St. Maarten in lieu of St. Kitts. Icon of the Seas is now more than 90% constructed, including interior outfitting and design details.
Sports Deck
Nevermind that the area is home to multiple pools and more than a dozen bars and eateries; some of Icon of the Seas’ most emblematic attractions are found here. Along with the weeklong maiden voyage, Heidi and I spent three days onboard a preview cruise. Across those 10 nights, we dined at four specialty restaurants. While several new dining concepts exist for complimentary venues, there are only a couple new specialty restaurants. Completion of the first 250,800 gross ton cruise ship will mark a key step in a project that was announced seven years ago. Royal Caribbean International ordered the first two ships of the Icon class in October 2016 followed by an order for a third vessel signed in June 2019.
Special Restaurants that are Worth the Extra Cost
If you're cruising with your children, there's no shortage of activities and attractions to excite little ones onboard Icon of the Seas℠. Like Playscape, a place for kids to slide, climb and play. There's also the cruise ship's beach-themed carousel, which doubles as a great photo opp. Another fun option on Icon is waffle chicken nuggets from Basecamp at Thrill Island. The quick-service spot is dishing out chicken nuggets that are wrapped in sweet waffle batter and served with a side of maple syrup for dipping. The sweet and savory bites were the perfect snack after hitting the water slides.I would also highly recommend the Bubbles, a walk-up Champagne bar tucked into the ship's Central Park neighborhood.
A look inside the Icon of the Seas, the world's biggest cruise ship, as it prepares for voyage - CBS News
A look inside the Icon of the Seas, the world's biggest cruise ship, as it prepares for voyage.
Posted: Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Operation food bag donation
Located inside of Hooked Seafood is Celebration Table, an elevated Chef's Table experience for up to 12 guests. The fully rentable private dining room will have floor-to-ceiling windows that offer some of the best views on the ship. Icon of the Seas will feature the biggest water park at sea with Category 6 with six thrilling waterslides. Surfside is a neighborhood dedicated to young families with appeal to kids and adults alike. While babies and kids can enjoy Surfside’s splash-pads, adults can grab a drink at The Lemon Post Bar, including “mommy and me” matching cocktails and mocktails.
Where will Icon of the Seas be sailing?
Across the ship, there are eight distinct areas, called neighborhoods, that range from entertainment and dining zones to kid's play places and even an adults-only oasis. I found that the neighborhood concept helped me easily navigate the huge ship and remember what dining or activities were where. Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure.
As I slink back to the ship after my brief jailbreak, the locals stand under umbrellas to gaze at and photograph the boat that towers over their small capital city. The limousines of the prime minister and his lackeys are parked beside the gangway. St. Kitts, I’ve been told, is one of the few islands that would allow a ship of this size to dock.
Exploring the 8 Neighborhoods of Icon of the Seas
But our Icon of the Seas cruise was an Eastern Caribbean itinerary. We sailed to St Thomas, St. Kitts, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Given the ship is a destination in itself, we reserved most of our port days to do and see more of Icon of the Seas. Though, the new adults-only Hideaway Beach at CocoCay made for a great ending to our cruise.
Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas side-by-side: photos - Business Insider
Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas side-by-side: photos.
Posted: Wed, 17 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
There’s also the secluded Cove Pool on Deck 15 for those seeking a little shade. Once again, this infinity pool is surrounded by numerous seating options in the shade along with some bright and funky furniture lining the portside of this deck. On Deck 15, there’s the record-breaking Royal Bay Pool on the starboard side.
The cruise ship is scheduled to begin revenue service on January 27, 2024, which the cruise line is highlighting is just 90 days away. As I walked up to the Royal Caribbean cruise terminal in Miami to step onboard Icon of the Seas for its first-ever sailing, I didn’t know what to expect. I had read a lot about the world’s new largest cruise ship, but there were still a lot of unknowns about the 7,500-passenger, 20-deck, 250,800 gross-ton ship. After three days onboard—which is not enough time to see and do everything the ship offers—I can confidently say that Icon of the Seas is worth all the hype it’s been getting.
Coastal Kitchen is available only to suite guests, with Sea class passengers only being able to dine here for dinner based on availability. The two-story venue will look directly into the AquaDome, offering for a unique dining experience that is unlike any other on the ship. Since it will be located in Central Park, guests will be able to eat their favorite sushi al fresco for the first time. Plus, with six Teppanyaki tables, more people will be able to enjoy the fun dining experience than ever before. Surfside will also be home to a few new dining venues, including Surfside Bites, Surfside Eatery, and Pier 7, with the latter being a brand-new specialty restaurant that will serve up Californian fare all day long.
A waiter from New Delhi tells me that his contract is six months and three weeks long. After a cruise ends, he says, “in a few hours, we start again for the next cruise.” At the end of the half a year at sea, he is allowed a two-to-three-month stay at home with his family. As of 2019, the median income for crew members was somewhere in the vicinity of $20,000, according to a major business publication. Royal Caribbean would not share the current median salary for its crew members, but I am certain that it amounts to a fraction of the cost of a Royal Bling gold-plated, zirconia-studded chalice.
“The ship’s noise, vibration, speed, fin stabilizers, automation, and main engine adjustments are tested. During the first test run in June, informal tests and verifications were made that everything works as it should,” said Olli Jantunen, Icon project manager. Cabins also are relatively quiet for a busy ship, though we did hear a little noise from the AquaDome, as our room was located at the front of the ship. Other rooms to avoid on Icon of the Seas include those directly above or below busy spaces, especially on Deck 14.
When all of the sea trials are complete, there may be some final adjustments that need to be made before the ship is prepared for delivery. As of May 2023, no official delivery date has been announced by Royal Caribbean or Meyer Werft. Until sea trials begin, construction will continue at the shipyard in Finland, where construction initially began in June 2021. Technologically, the cruise ship is all the first for the line and the second for the group using LNG as its primary fuel. It has six LNG-powered engines that provide 67,500 kW of energy.
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